Morning journal and courier., 1887-03-19
FIFTH KINDERGARTEN LECTURE
Miss Brooks Upon the Means of Pro- noting the Spiritual Growth of ChiI-


 noting the Spiritual Growth of Chill dren.
 The fifth kindergarten lecture was deliv- cred at Grove Hall by Miss Brooks Thurs day afternoon. Among other things she said:
 Frcebel says "education must and ought to lead and guide everyone to clear knowledge of him sell, to peace with nature and oneness with God. It should raise one to knowledge of himself and of mankind, to a recognition of God and nature and as result to pure and holy 1ife.H He said also.
 All education that is not founded on the Christian religion is one-sded, defective and fruitless.''
 Miss Brooks then said that moral culture has ref erence to our relations with our fellow men, rei- gious culture to our relations to God speaking first of the importance of infancy for purposes of spiritual nurture. Infancy. or the not speaking age is of vital importance in the souls history. The child at first receives impressions unconsciously- he feels before he thinks what it is that he feels. Language can have no meaning until experiences in the life of the child have given it a meaning Even a young baby feels the state of mind of the one who handles it. and already though unconsciously has begun to form his standard of conduct. Infancy is the seed time of life and the most important part of education is right aiming in tine nursery. No development can and must lead up to knowledge of man and to q knowledge of God Moral culture depends the child. Have defects in the foundations. The religious life of the child remains long hidden, mental atmosphere of those who surround him. Do not think your child is too young to receive impressions, and as such most valuable. ,
 The second division Of the lecture was 'the of material things as symbols of spiritual truth It is painfully evident that this idea of the meaning of material things has rot yet been accepted by even so.calIed advanced educators. Again we must repeat that in early childhood all instruction which is conveyed solely in words, is as good as thrown away ideas must be presented in visible images. It is this idea of the symbolism of materi al things that is at the basis of all the games of the Mother play and nursery songs" It is important that children be led to see in the works of God the proofs of his love and wisdom. Lessons of hope and trust may be learned from the winter buds of trees Of beauty from the breaking of light through the prism. The rain affords opportunity to talk about the clouds and the they serve and the depend ence upon them of both the animal and vegetable kingdoms l. is wise to show them the difference between the works of God and the works of man as it seems to me- said the lecturer should always be expressions of thanksgiving" Happy is that child who sees in the daily lives of his parents a practically unselsh interest in the lives Of others. Thus will he be led to habits of kindly thought and practical sympathy toward his fellows. To encour- age children in loving deeds for others is chief means of promoting their spiritual growth. Chil- fidence and hopefuness. A great deal of their naughtiness is caused by Encouragement arising partly from a sense of weakness and partly from the feeling that others dstrust them; give them, the Great Teacher did, spiritual help without up- braiding.
 Miss Brooks closed deeply interesting lecture by saying: "I shall be more than satisfied if there is deepened in the mind of any the thought that underlies these words, based upon Froebel's motto:''
 ''Come let us live with our children, Earnestly, holily live;
 Knowing ourselves the sweet lessons That to the children give.''